Those yellow lee powder dippers...

C

Coolhand_Luke

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So I got a couple of those lee powder dippers kicking around and I thought id check against my scale to see how accurate they are. So filling up a 3.1cc dipper with Imr3031 and tapping it a couple of times to get it level yielded these results:

42.2gr
41.4gr
42.4gr
42.3gr
41.8gr
41.9gr
42.8gr
42.3gr
42.1gr
41.7gr

I checked the weight of each charge with my hornady powder scale. I tried to do my best to consistently fill it each time, but I have never used these before so I dont know if these results are typical or is there some trick to getting consistent results with one of these things. I dont think I would try loading any rounds with one of these if this is all i can expect... So what do you guys think ever used these things before and got decent results?

Luke
 
IIRC the Lee loading manual talks about these being a volume charge as opposed to a weighed charge....

Does it make a difference?

The same manual says that the big ammo makers use a similar system of volume charging...

This is what I recall, without having said book in front of me.

So, by using them as recommended (and there is a prescribed way to fill them) you, for all intents and purposes, are duplicating factory ammo.





.
 
blacksmithden said:
Not exactly the most consistant system is it. I guess if you're just plinking at 50 yards with the model 94 that would be ok. The only time I ever used them was to scoop powder out of the can and dump it in my scales tray for weighing. Then I used a powder trickler to get it bang on.
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Same here.DAN...:D
 
Ya that is the only thing i have used them for, throw a quick charge into the pan and then trickle it to desired weight. I thought i would check out therre consistency to see if i could just use the scoop for plinking loads etc. But if that is the best i can do I dont think i would want to load with that much variance in the charge weights... So does anyone know if there is a proper way to load them to get good results???

Luke
 
Coolhand_Luke said:
... So does anyone know if there is a proper way to load them to get good results???

Luke
Click to expand...

I use a glass bowl (or something else non conductive). Rest the dipper on top of powder and I pull and push down at the same time. Use, again, a non conductive thin edge to scrape excess 'heap' off of the dipper.

Lee says the variance can be brought so low as to not have any appreciable register on the scale...with practice and consistency, I believe this could be possible.

For what this is worth...I'm by no means any kind of expert.

I have a full set to use if all else is FUBAR.
 
I use them for making "plinking" loads, with not quite full max charges. I check every few on a scale and can get within 0.5 gr. accuracy on short grained powder if I consistently pass the scoop through the powder once, no shaking, and strike the top off level with a straightedge. The key seems to be having al lot of powder to scoop through, 'cuz if you scrape the sides or bottom of the container the scoop hangs up and the weight is different. Big log type powder grains do not scoop as consistently as ball or small short cylinder powders.
 
I also just scoop for the tray of the scale, when loading up to maybe ten, of a try-out load. Not worth setting the powder measure.
Funny thing is how accurate I can get it, and before I weigh it I can judge if it varies about ½ grain just by looking at the scoop full.
 
I use them, and like them, I had a LEE powder measure that came with my kit and it was more inconsistant than the scoops. Like stated above don't tap them, scrape the scoop level with a card of some sort. I like to use a card made of paper, us to use a plastic one but it creats static in the powder. Their great to get you close to the charge you are looking for, then trickle to the weight.

Perry
 
I don't use lee's dippers, mine are old cases cut off to throw a desired charge, mostly small cast bullet charges. the best way I've found is to dip from a nearly full bowl shaped coffee cup. Dip deep, tip the dipper enough to let the powder run off level, and throw the charge onto your scale. Like someone else said, it's easier than setting up a powder measure, which you'ld probably check with a scale anyway.
My 2 cents. Grouch
 
Ball powders. Definitely ball powders!

And less than maximum loads!

The gophers I whacked, never knew that the loads I shot them with, were less than perfect. The rifle couldn't tell either, apparently.

.223, 50 grain Winchester bulk bullets, and, IIRC Accurate 2230, or H322 for somewhere supposedly around 2500 or 2600 fps. Cheap, fast to do, and shoot as well as I can.

Cheers
Trev
 
Well I think I will try again since they are so quick to use. I am loading some 308 rounds right now so I will load up some with measured charges and some with the dipper. I guess its a good excuse to shoot some more before I condemn them. I will post the results.

Luke
 
I have a few and use them for dicking around a bit, trying something out...just as a scoop, not a measure. I caqn shoot one step from my reloading bench, so I will use them to play around, but I am scooping powder onto the scale.

With good quality scales, dispensers and my personal fave, the RCBS Chargemaster Combo so redily available (and most beam scales are pretty cheap) I don't see why anyone would want to use a LEE scoop for anythign but playing aorund, but to each thier own.
:)
 
That's not that bad!

42.1 grains overall average, with the biggest variance being 1.4 grain.

These dippers weren't designed with benchrest shooter in mind, but they get the job done with remarkable accuracy.

Hakx
 
dan belisle said:
Scoop, no tapping, use a business card to scrape off level. They actually work better then you would think. - dan
Click to expand...

Thats what I started out with when I ventured into "rolling my own".
It was 6.5x55 with H380, got me quarter (.25cent) size groups at 100yds with a 140gr bullet and meat in my freezer. Now I digitally measure all my loads but they(dippers) work great for the beginner/novice ;)
 
Stay far away from Max loads.
Scoop the powder and then scrape across the top with a straight edge, trying to be as consistent as possible, in both the way you scoop, and the way you scape, and I think the variance will improve.
When you think about it, it's the same system used inside a mechanical powder measure, the only difference being the possibility of human error, and inconsistency is greater.
 
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